Kota, Jakarta
The former (Town Hall) of Batavia, the seat and office of the
Governor General of VOC. The building now serves as Jakarta History Museum (Museum Fatahillah).
Kota ( Kota Tua Jakarta), is a small area in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is also known as Old Jakarta,
and Old Batavia .It spans 1.3
square kilometres of North Jakarta and West Jakarta (Kelurahan Pinangsia, Taman Sari and Kelurahan Roa Malaka, Tambora). Kota is Indonesian word
for "city", it was the reminiscent of the vicinity during colonial
times in 16th century that the city was only within Batavia walled compound
(today Kota), while the surrounding areas was only kampung (villages), orchards, and ricefields. The largely
Chinese downtown area of Glodok is a central part of Kota.
Dubbed "The Jewel of
Asia" and "Queen of the East" in the 16th century by European
sailors, Old Jakarta — or Batavia, as it was named by the Dutch — was once a
center of commerce for the whole continent due to its strategic location and
abundant resources.
A map of Batavia in 1740. The area of Batavia within the city walls and
moat and the Sunda Kelapa harbor to the left (north) of the
map make up Jakarta Old Town.
In 1526, Fatahillah, sent by Sultanate of Demak, invaded Hindu Pajajaran's port of Sunda Kelapa, after which he renamed it into Jayakarta. This town was only 15 hectare in size and had a typical Javanese harbour
lay-out. In 1619 the VOC destroyed Jayakarta under the
command of Jan Pieterszoon Coen. A year later the VOC built a new town named
"Batavia" to honor Batavieren, the Dutch ancestors. This
city was centered around the east bank of the Ciliwung river, around present
day Fatahillah Square.
Inhabitants of Batavia are called
"Batavianen", later known as "Betawi" people, the creole ethnic, the descendants of mixed various ethnicities that inhabited
Batavia.
In 1635 the city expanded towards
the west banks of Ciliwung, on the ruins of former Jayakarta. The city was
designed in European Dutch style complete with a fortress (Kasteel Batavia),
city wall, and canals. The city was arranged in several blocks separated by
canals.[1] The city of Batavia was completed in 1650. It became the headquarters of
the VOC in the East Indies. The canals were filled up due to
outbreaks of tropical diseases within the city walls because of poor
sanitation. The city began to expand further south as epidemics in 1835 and
1870 forced more and more people to move out of the cramped city, to the Weltevreden
area (now the area surrounding Merdeka Square). The city later became the
administrative center of the Dutch East Indies. In 1942 during the Japanese occupation, Batavia was renamed Jakarta, and still serves as the capital city of Indonesia.
In 1972, the Governor of Jakarta, Ali Sadikin, issued a decree that officially made the Jakarta Kota area into a heritage
site. The governor's decision was necessary in order to preserve the city's
architectural roots — or at least what was left of it.
Despite the Governor's Decree, the
old town remains neglected. Even though the majority was pleased just by the
issuing of the decree, not enough was being done to protect and conserve the
legacy from the Dutch colonial era.
SURABAYA
Formerly, in the vast ocean frequent fights between
Shark Sura with Crocodile. They fight over prey scramble. Both are equally
strong, equally competent, equally smart, equally ferocious and equally greedy.
Already many times they fight nobody ever wins or lose. Eventually they entered
into the agreement. The deal is to divide the territory into two. Sura ruled
supreme in the water and had to find their prey in the water, while crocodiles
power on land and prey must be located on the mainland. As the boundary between
land and water, is reached by sea water at low tide. The deal was approved by
both.
With the division of the territory, it is no longer a fight between Sura and Crocodile. Both have agreed to respect each region. But one day, Sura Shark prey in the river. This is done in secret so as crocodiles do not know. At first it did not get caught. But one day Crocodile caught deeds this Shark Sura. Sure, just very angry crocodile sharks Sura broke his promise. Shark Sura who feel no guilt calm. "I violated the agreement? Was not this river watery . I've told you, that I was a ruler in water? Now, the river is right there is water, so it also includes regional power," Shark said Sura. "What? River right place on the ground, while the area of your power in the sea, meaning the river is area of my power!" Crocodile insisted. "Can not. I did not tell you that the water was only sea water, but also the river" said Sharks Sura? "You deliberately asking for trouble, Sura?" "No, I think the reason is quite strong and I was on the part of the right!" Sura said. "You deliberately palming. I'm not as stupid as you think!" Crocodile said getting angry. "I do not care you stupid or clever, which importance of river water and sea water are my power!" Sura did not want to lose. Because no one wants to budge, then fierce battle between Sura and Crocodile Shark happen again.
With the division of the territory, it is no longer a fight between Sura and Crocodile. Both have agreed to respect each region. But one day, Sura Shark prey in the river. This is done in secret so as crocodiles do not know. At first it did not get caught. But one day Crocodile caught deeds this Shark Sura. Sure, just very angry crocodile sharks Sura broke his promise. Shark Sura who feel no guilt calm. "I violated the agreement? Was not this river watery . I've told you, that I was a ruler in water? Now, the river is right there is water, so it also includes regional power," Shark said Sura. "What? River right place on the ground, while the area of your power in the sea, meaning the river is area of my power!" Crocodile insisted. "Can not. I did not tell you that the water was only sea water, but also the river" said Sharks Sura? "You deliberately asking for trouble, Sura?" "No, I think the reason is quite strong and I was on the part of the right!" Sura said. "You deliberately palming. I'm not as stupid as you think!" Crocodile said getting angry. "I do not care you stupid or clever, which importance of river water and sea water are my power!" Sura did not want to lose. Because no one wants to budge, then fierce battle between Sura and Crocodile Shark happen again.
The fight this time more fun and awesome. Jump and
pounce on each other, biting and hitting each other. In an instant, the water
around it becomes red by the blood from the wounds of the two animals. They
continue to fight tooth and nail without a break. In this fierce battle,
Crocodile Shark Sura got bites right at the base of its tail. Furthermore, its
tail was forced to always bend to the left. While fish Sura also bitten her
tail until almost severed, and Sura fish back into the ocean. Crocodiles have
been satisfied to maintain the area.
The battle between fish shark called Sura and
Crocodile is very memorable in the hearts of the people of Surabaya. Therefore,
the name of Surabaya has always been linked to these events. From events is
made that the symbol of Surabaya picture "sura fish and crocodiles".
SURAKARTA (SOLO)
Surakarta is also widely known by the name "Solo". "Surakarta" is used in formal and official contexts. The city has a similar name to the neighboring district of "Kartasura," where the previous capital of Mataram was located. The variant spelling "Soerakarta" reflects the Dutch orthography in use before the 1948 spelling reform.
Its ruling family lay claim to being the heirs to the
Mataram dynasty. Like Yogyakarta, Solo has two royal palaces.
A series of wars and clashes between the Adipati (dukes) followed the death of
the last Sultan of Demak Bintoro, the first Islamic kingdom in Java. One of these
was Jaka Tingkir, son-in-law of the late sultan.
After defeating the last opponent duke of Jipang-Panola, Jaka Tingkir, also
known as Sultan Hadiwijaya, he claimed the throne and moved the capital to the
city of Pajang, located about
8 miles from present-day Surakarta. His adopted son, Sutawijaya, formed a
conspiracy and killed him with the help of an assassin. Then he ascended the
throne and once again moved the capital to Mataram in the present-day province
of Yogyakarta, and a new dynasty was founded
In May 1998, there was a large riot in Surakarta. It was
initially triggered by rising oil prices, with an angry mob ransacking and
setting many buildings on fire, particularly banks and official government
buildings. But then the situation became uncontrolled as the mob also targeted
shopping centers and other commercial buildings for destruction, before it
finally turned into a racial riot as rioters targeted houses and business
assets of the local Indonesian-Chinese, leading to widespread destruction in the region.
The batik of Solo (Surakarta) is known as among the older
batik tradition in Java. The typical style of Solo batik is its sogan (dark yellow) color, in
contrast with Yogyakarta batik has whitish background. The main production
centers of traditional Solo batik is in Kauman area and Laweyan, and Pasar Klewer is the main
batik market in the city.\
In popular culture of Indonesia, the term Putri Solo (Solo Princess) is a well
known idiom to describe the extraordinary beauty and grace of the Surakarta
ladies.
The Solo Batik Carnival held annually, is the event that
showcased Surakarta as the center of Javanese batik art as well as the center
of creative fashion industry based upon batik.
Surakarta is also famous for staging some international
music festivals such as Kereta Kencana World Music Festival (formerly Solo
International Ethnic Music Festival), Solo Keroncong Festival, and metal music festival
Rock In Solo.
BANDUNG
The word " Bandung " is derived from the weir or dam because
unstoppable Citarum River by lava of Mount Tangkuban Perahu and form a lake .
Legend told by older people in Bandung say that the name " Bandung "
is taken from a water vehicle which consists of two boats tied up alongside the
boat called used by the Regent of Bandung Bandung , RA Wiranatakusumah II , to
sail Ci Tarum in finding the seat of the new district to replace the old
capital in Dayeuhkolot .
Bandung began to serve as a settlement area since the colonial Dutch East
Indies government , through the Governor -General Herman Willem Daendels that
time , issued a decree dated 25 September 1810 on the development of
infrastructure for the region . Later this event immortalized as the
anniversary of the city of Bandung .
Bandung officially recognized status gemeente ( city ) from the Governor -General JB van Heutsz on 1 April 1906 with an area of approximately 900 ha at the time , and increased to 8,000 ha in 1949, until the last increase to the current area .
During the war of independence , on March 24, 1946 , most of the city
burned by the freedom fighters as part of the war strategy of the time . This
event known as the Bandung Ocean of Fire and immortalized in the song Halo -
Halo Bandung . In addition the city is later abandoned by most of its
inhabitants were evacuated to other areas .
On April 18, 1955 at the Merdeka Building formerly named " Concordia
" ( Jl. Asia Africa , now ) , opposite the Savoy Homann Hotel , was held
for the first time Asian - African Conference which then returned the Asia-
Africa Summit 2005 was held in this city on 19 April-24 April , 2005.
BALI
Bali was
inhabited around 2000 BC by Austronesian
people who migrated originally from Southeast Asia and Oceania through Maritime Southeast
Asia.[7][8] Culturally and linguistically, the
Balinese are thus closely related to the people of the Indonesian archipelago,
Malaysia, the Philippines, and Oceania.[8] Stone tools dating from this time
have been found near the village of Cekik in the island's west.[9][10]
In ancient Bali, nine Hindu sects existed, namely Pasupata, Bhairawa, Siwa
Shidanta, Waisnawa, Bodha, Brahma, Resi, Sora and Ganapatya. Each sect revered
a specific deity as its personal Godhead.[11]
Balinese culture was strongly influenced by Indian, Chinese, and
particularly Hindu culture, beginning around the 1st century AD. The
name Bali dwipa ("Bali
island") has been discovered from various inscriptions, including the
Blanjong pillar inscription written by Sri Kesari Warmadewa in 914 AD
and mentioning "Walidwipa". It was during this time that the complex
irrigation system subak was developed to grow rice. Some religious and
cultural traditions still in existence today can be traced back to this period.
The Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293–1520
AD) on eastern Java founded a Balinese colony in 1343.
When the empire declined, there was an exodus of intellectuals, artists,
priests, and musicians from Java to Bali in the 15th century.
At religious festivals on Bali the
sculptures get dressed up and umbrellas are placed by the temples.
The first European contact with Bali is thought to
have been made in 1585 when a Portuguese ship foundered off the Bukit
Peninsula and left a few Portuguese in the
service of Dewa Agung.[12] In 1597 the Dutch explorer Cornelis de Houtman arrived at
Bali and, with the establishment of the Dutch East India Company in 1602, the stage was set for colonial control two
and a half centuries later when Dutch control expanded across the Indonesian
archipelago throughout the second half of the 19th century (see Dutch East
Indies). Dutch political and economic
control over Bali began in the 1840s on the island's north coast, when the
Dutch pitted various distrustful Balinese realms against each other.[13] In the late 1890s, struggles between Balinese
kingdoms in the island's south were exploited by the Dutch to increase their
control.
The Dutch mounted large naval and ground assaults at the Sanur region in 1906 and were met by the thousands of members of
the royal family and their followers who fought against the superior Dutch
force in a suicidal puputan defensive assault rather than face the humiliation of
surrender. Despite Dutch demands for surrender, an estimated 200 Balinese
marched to their death against the invaders. In the Dutch intervention in Bali, a similar massacre occurred in the face of a Dutch
assault in Klungkung. Afterwards the Dutch governors
were able to exercise administrative control over the island, but local control
over religion and culture generally remained intact. Dutch rule over Bali came
later and was never as well established as in other parts of Indonesia such as
Java and Maluku.
In the 1930s, anthropologists Margaret Mead and Gregory
Bateson, and artists Miguel Covarrubias and Walter Spies, and musicologist Colin McPhee created a western image of Bali as "an enchanted
land of aesthetes at peace with themselves and
nature", and western tourism first developed on the island.
Imperial
Japan occupied Bali during World War II.
Bali Island was not originally a target in their Netherlands East Indies
Campaign, but as the airfields on Borneo were inoperative due to heavy rains the Imperial Japanese Army decided to occupy Bali, which did not suffer from comparable weather. The
island had no regular Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) troops. There was only a Native Auxiliary
Corps Prajoda (Korps Prajoda)
consisting of about 600 native soldiers and several Dutch KNIL officers under
command of KNIL Lieutenant Colonel W.P. Roodenburg. On 19 February 1942 the
Japanese forces landed near the town of Senoer . The island was quickly
captured.
The 1963 eruption of Mount Agung killed thousands, created economic havoc and forced
many displaced Balinese to be transmigrated to other parts of Indonesia. Mirroring the widening
of social divisions across Indonesia in the 1950s and early 1960s, Bali saw
conflict between supporters of the traditional caste system, and those rejecting these traditional values.
Politically, the opposition was represented by supporters of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and the Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI), with tensions and ill-feeling further
increased by the PKI's land reform programs. An attempted coup in Jakarta
was put down by forces led by General Suharto. The army became the dominant
power as it instigated a violent anti-communist purge, in which the army blamed the PKI for the coup. Most
estimates suggest that at least 500,000 people were killed across Indonesia,
with an estimated 80,000 killed in Bali, equivalent to 5% of the island's
population. With no Islamic forces involved as in Java and Sumatra, upper-caste
PNI landlords led the extermination of PKI members.
As a result of the 1965/66 upheavals, Suharto was able to manoeuvre Sukarno
out of the presidency, and his "New Order" government
reestablished relations with western countries. The pre-War Bali as
"paradise" was revived in a modern form, and the resulting large
growth in tourism has led to a dramatic increase in Balinese standards of
living and significant foreign exchange earned for the country. A bombing in 2002 by militant
Islamists in the tourist area of Kuta killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. This attack,
and another in 2005, severely affected tourism,
bringing much economic hardship to the island.
